Ubisoft has recently announced that it will be launching “Star Wars Outlaws,” the world’s first open-world Star Wars game, in 2024. Set between the events of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” the game will offer players a chance to step into the shoes of a new character named Kay Vess, a rogue on a mission to pull off the heist of her life.
The game is slated for release on gaming consoles and PC next year. In a surprising move, Ubisoft did not just stop at the announcement; a day later, the company released some gameplay footage to offer fans a glimpse of what they could expect in 2024.
The gameplay footage takes players on a thrilling ride through the planet Toshara with Kay. Scenes reveal a blend of traditional stealth and shooter gameplay elements, supplemented by high-speed vehicular chases on speeder bikes. In true Star Wars style, players can expect to navigate through the game with some unique features. For instance, Kay can alter her blaster bolt type on the go or deploy her fuzzy companion, Nix, to distract and bother her foes. Nix’s voice is brought to life by Dee Bradley Baker, who fans will recognize from “Clone Wars” and “Bad Batch”.
Ubisoft’s preview also drops hints at intriguing story threads. At one point, Kay encounters her Battle Droid companion, ND-5, and in another instance, she crosses paths with a Mon Calamari information broker, pushing her towards a confrontation with the Empire. As one might expect from a seasoned smuggler, Kay’s tenacity leads her to evade the planet and the Empire’s interests swiftly.
“Star Wars Outlaws” promises a unique adventure, allowing players to travel across worlds in their starship and undertake tasks as they please. It is refreshing to see a modern Star Wars game that steps away from the usual Jedi or Force-related narratives and instead focuses on a different aspect of the Empire era. As we inch closer to the game’s release in 2024, fans can only hope that the final product lives up to the exciting premise unveiled so far.